Expo 2015 in Milan

Several combined elements symbolise the earth's fertility: on a semicircle representing the globe, a watered seed stands on the verge of germination; above the earth, a vine, an olive branch and an ear of grain grow from a tree trunk; around them, the inscription "NUTRIRE IL PIANETA" arcs in a semicircle. To the left, the initials of artist Maria Grazia Urbani "MGU"; to the right, the Italian Republic monogram "RI" and the Rome Mint mark "R"; at the centre, the Expo Milano 2015 logo.

World's fairs have, since their emergence in the 19th century, represented the exchange of technical and cultural achievements between nations. Expo 2015 in Milan embraced this format under a theme that had never before taken centre stage in the history of world's fairs: food and agriculture as a global challenge. Under the motto "Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life", more than 140 participating countries gathered from May to October 2015 at the exhibition grounds northwest of central Milan. Around 21 million visitors made the event one of the most attended in the history of the Expo.

As host nation, Italy linked the world's fair theme to its own agricultural identity: Mediterranean cuisine, the wine-growing traditions of the Po Valley and southern Italy, olive cultivation from Lake Garda to Sicily, and the importance of grain farming for food security were central reference points of the Italian contribution. Milan itself, as the economic and cultural centre of northern Italy, provided the urban backdrop for a debate on sustainable food production, global nutrition, and the relationship between industry and nature. On the 70th anniversary of the United Nations, and concurrently with the Expo, the UN adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which enshrined food security as a global goal. Italy's 2015 2-euro commemorative coin was issued on the occasion of this world's fair in Milan.